adminearned a global reputation and international awards along the way.
Saimon Mambazo Phiri did not only seek to elevate the group to a higher plane but his ambitious streak moved him to create an institution around Siyaya with the formation of Ibumba Festival, Sabela Music Projects and a publishing project.
Siyaya’s founding member and director has written himself into arts history books with his innovative ideas.
“We have already signed a publishing deal with Inbube group, Black Umfolosi for us to write their biography which we will serialise in a magazine,” says Phiri.
Siyaya has been touring Europe for the past decade, spending more than half of each year overseas, but Phiri says now is the time to focus on the local market.
“We are now looking at performing in commercially viable shows in Europe only.
“We are putting more emphasis on Ibumba Arts Festival, which I believe has got more room to grow,” he said. The annual multi-disciplinary arts showcase is held every December in Bulawayo and has grown over the years to become one of the biggest annual events on the arts calendar in the city of Kings and Queens.
In a wide-ranging interview, Mbazo as Phiri is affectionately known as, lamented lack of creativity in building the arts industry in the City of Kings, saying artists had failed audiences and also lashed out at the donor community for killing the industry.
“There is a vacuum in the arts, I think the industry has failed the public as they have been unable to commercialise the sector.
“Although Bulawayo has continually churned out talent, it’s sad that it has not managed to retain it,” he said.
Mbazo said lack of funds was the handicap for the arts but said funds from the donor community had not assisted in the development of the industry as well.
“Amakhosi was heavily reliant on donor funds and the flight of donors saw the demise of the centre. Amakhosi was the centre of arts for a long time and its fall made people assume the industry is dead.
“What we actually need now is commercially viable arts. We need to start producing work that can put audiances on their seats,” he added. Mbazo alluded to their hit production, “Zambezi Express” that proved to
be a success as they had sold out shows internationally and in the country as well.
“Zambezi Express” – a dance production – was able to attract a varied and cross-cultural audience when it was held in Bulawayo.
While arts acts from the high-density suburbs usually attract a black audience, also from the same areas, “Zambezi Express”, broke down the barriers and managed to wow white people who usually do not attend such shows.
The show was run at the Bulawayo Theatre.
Mbazo attributed the success of the production to the marketing and the hype they had created to sell the show.
“Most artists think it is enough getting a story in The Chronicle (media) only to sell their show.
“Artists need to look at ways of effectively getting through to the audience to woo them to shows, engaging marketing professionals is the best way to go, although the expense might be too much,” he said.
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